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Coming next month to a cinema near you is the film 'Amazing Grace' , the true story of the Slave abolitionist William Wilberforce. Slavery, and it's abolition ,is a significant part of history that I believe we are duty bound to explore with our children. If we only ever look at history's heroes, yet ignore history's mistakes, we're not giving them the true picture. Ideas and resources Check out the story of Wilberforce by typing 'Wllberforce' into wikipedia.com. I just read this to my eight year old and he was really moved.He is currently reading the biography of Livingstone as preparation for our look at slavery next month. www.setallfree.net/resources_current.html www.freetheslaves.net/slavery/ www.antislavery.org Thisnwebsites offer a host ofpractical ideas for groups to help further the struggle against slavery and similar abuses today. It also offers a very useful month by month 2007 guide to events all over UK Try and see if you can see the film 'Amistad - Steven Spielburgs film about the courage of American Christians, inspired by Wilberforces work, just a few years later. For actual taped reminisces of aged American slaves : http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/voices/ For hundreds of historical images: http://hitchcock.itc.virginia.edu/Slavery/index.php God Bless Jane
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Over the last few weeks of reading many blogs I have come to the conclusion that many of us are having a pretty tough time, maybe not with the homeschooling of our kids as such but with other pressures and problems in life. I know I for one have had a rough ride over the last few months. As a family we have felt strong attack and a weakening in resolve. I want this entry though to be one of encouragement for all you life battered mums and dads who just want to serve God, your families, church and friends. Here in the UK homeschooling hasn't taken off anywhere as much as in America but we are a band of trail blazers for a concept that is growing quickly. We may not have all the curriculums at hand and large homeschooling groups to attend, but we have strength and resoursefulness that I now for myself I often lose sight of. Homeschoolblogger has also been a major source of encouragement and inspiration for me and my family and I'm hoping that it will grow in its usage amongst UK homeschoolers. It is a great opportunity to reach out and befriend like minded people all over the world but I would like to think that as a country here we can do that for each other through the blog. I know blogging hasn't taken off the same here but it will follow suit eventually and I can imagine a big group of homeschoolers using it to encourage and build each other up. For those who are considering homeschooling in the future but are concerned that there will be no one else near by, get in touch with one of the UK bloggers here at HSB I'm sure one of us will be able to point you in the right direction. I'm sure I speak for all of us in saying we want to help and encourage all who want to walk this particular path. We have all been there at sometime as we have started out on this journey. Before I finish this entry I also want to encourage everyone to use this wonderful medium of HSB to find new friends and to support and pray for each other. Spread the word!!!! Have a great rest of the week, Love Deb |
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The kind of day I am having today makes the subject of motivation quite hard to think about. But you know it's in my head anyway and I kind of think I need to say something on the subject even if it just gets some good stuff into my head. Today all my kids are in a grump, the type of mood that makes you suspicious that maybe they are coming down with something. They have been niggling each other all day, any work has had to be drawn out of them like pulling teeth and I have to admit I have had one of my " that's it I'm giving up" days!!!! So you wouldn't set my lovely offspring up or me as the epitome of motivation today. I'm smiling as I write this because actually as the day draws into evening it doesn't seem anywhere near as bad as it did this morning at about 11am. It never does though does it? Where do we draw our motivation from each day? Do we wake up feeling full of beans and raring to go with the most wonderful, exciting plans that you know are going to have the kids engrossed. Or like today for me, is it one of those days when you just want to go back to bed!!! I know I always feel loads better if I have had chance to do some good planning and got all my materials together. The subject matter needs to inspire me for it to have a knock on effect for the kids. But probably top of my list for motivating me and my tribe to have a productive, unstressful day is if we have plans to see people that day or if the children have extra activities planned.Breaking out of routine works wonders to head off the " I don't want to work" bug. My kids are at the age when the highlight of any day is the opportunity to see their friends and it always has a good effect on their motivation to work hard at their lessons. But bottom line, the one thing that has pulled me back today has been a good chat with God. He is able above all else to motivate our little homeschool into action. Prayer has worked wonders so many times and I'm thrilled that my kids have seen for themselves just how powerful talking to their Father God is. Anyway I hope my ramblings have been of some help and encouragement. I know I'm not on my own, we all have days when motivation seems to be non-existent and we just can't wait to get into bed again. I'm going to keep bringing it back to God, he has helped loads today. Deb |
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Happy New Year ! Wishing you and your family a year of Jubilee. A year of growth, adventure and learning. Go for it! Today is my birthday and I'm whiling the afternoon away with a box of Thorntons chocolates and my three children doing their *best* to make it a great afternoon. Sheesh. Surfing the net, I just stumbled upon a totally awesome bargain.... A huge set of audio cds by the BBC that includes dramatised versions of my all time favourite read alouds...We're talking Treasure Island,The Secret garden,Heidi,Swallows and Amazons, Tom's Midnight garden. This full set, is reduced from around £50 to just £17. Fabulous for car journeys and some fresh inspiration as we kick into the new term. Here's the link: http://www.bbcshop/invt/056352546&bklist=icat,4,,januarysale,audiobooksale The link is to the BBC shop, audiobook section. Also coming up this term there is the 'Education Show' held at the NEC, Birmingham in March, (type 'education show NEC' into google and it'll take you there)This is a fabulous opportunity to pick up freebies and great educational material. If your going, and you want to meet up for a coffee...let us know! love Jane |
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I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy, peaceful Christmas and and great New Year. I pray that God richly blesses you and your family at this wonderful, precious time of year. We are going to have a two week break here at Living Heritage but we look forward to hearing from you all in the New Year. God Bless Deb |
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Hey Folks, We hope you've enjoyed the last 6 months of posting from the Living Heritage team. This blog is for the support and inspiration of UK homeschoolers, choosing to raise their kids in the Lord in the robust environment of home and local community. We are one of a very small number of UK home education support organisations, all with a common goal of building the UK homeschooling community. So, what do you think of Living Heritage thus far? Any questions? Any subject we need to cover? Do you have groups to recommend? Resources? Comments? Please drop us a quick email at admin@livingheritage.org.uk or drop us a comment on the blog (you don't have to be a blog member to comment, just click on' 'post a comment', it's easy) Looking forward to hearing from you! Jane |
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Hi folks! Check out the fab link below for making a Christmas Christingle or Jesse Tree.
I've just opened the curtains and it looks like today is going to be oh so windy (brrrrr) Oh well, fear not, intrepid Jane and her little trible are going to a local park to pick up some twisted willow. We're going to sprinkle glitter on it and make it our Jesse Tree (see link).
http://www.msgr.ca/msgr-2/christingle.htm
Jane |
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Hi folks,
The 'I'm BORED' whine from my children is one I could really do without. Yup, after a day cuttng glueing, reading,teaching, pretending to be a shop customer a dozen times for my youngest, cooking, researching, cleaning ....those words are like a slap in the face to a homeschool parent OR we could see them as a swifty chance for a spot of character building (heh heh)
Our role, rather than immediately 'entertain' them out of their boredom is to allow them to gain the self discipline habits to lift themselves out of their boredom. This morning, I have skulked downstairs to get some swifty housework done while everyone else sleeps. I had a quick check of emails, and a good friend of mine posted some great quotes about beating boredom. I'm always on the look out for good quotes as I have my kids start their day by writing out and memorizing poems/quotes/scriptures/lyrics. The following give us some really great foundations for beating boredom:
"Your true traveller finds boredom rather agreeable than painful. It is the symbol of his liberty - his excessive freedom. He accepts his boredom, when it comes, not merely philosophically, but almost with pleasure." Aldous Huxley
Have a great day! Jane |
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Yes I know it's still over three weeks away and I apologise to all those who this reminder sends them into a frenzy of agitation. But I wanted to share how we are spending these last weeks up to Christmas in our Home-school.
We love all things christmasy in our house. I am like a big kid as it gets nearer and the "ceremony" of the Christmas Tree decorating is always a biggy. We spend a fair amount of time making lots of craft and baking yummy things. I love taking the kids into the city centre to see the lights and any party on offer bring it on!!!
However I have been very saddened this year at just how dumbed down the real meaning of Christmas as got. There have been stories of the huge increase in red tape to make it hard for local comminuties to put up Christmas lights. Schools are not only refusing to serve traditional turkey for the christmas lunch but are also nolonger doing nativity plays in order not to cause offense. How far will this country go before people start to wake up to just how much is at stake.
Anyway, this year I have chosen a Christmas unit study from www.homeschoolestore.com to do with my two oldest and combining it with a look at christmas around the world. The Unit study is a biblical exploration of Jesus' birth and they are building up their own journals with pictures and and crafts so they still get to indulge in all things gluey and glittery. There are two levels that I am doing with my 8 year old and 6 year old. It is good to spend our time doing real Christmas study. It is so easy to get caught up in the secular stuff but bringing it back to where it should be is vital.
Deb |
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Science teaching materials discussing intelligent design rather than evolution have beendeemed "not appropriate" by the UK education officials.
DNA BY DESIGN
The Department for Education and Skills said they not supportive of the science curriculum. However, supporters of the 'Truth in Science' courses says they are "very scholarly" and could be extremely useful in helping children understand the importance of scientific debate A Truth in Science supporter said"Darwin has for many people become a sacred cow. "There's a sense that if you criticise Darwin you must be some kind of religious nut case. "We might has well have said Einstein shouldn't have said what he did because it criticised Newton."
Surely, science only moves forward by reviewing and reworking previous theories and that these materials foster an understanding of this. There is no doubt, however, 'intelligent design' is fast becoming abhorent to the education system The chairman of the parliamentary science and technology committee, Phil Willis, said using the packs in science classes "elevated creationism" to the same level of debate as Darwinism and that there was no justification for entertaing creationism. He added: "There's little enough time with the school curriculum to deal with real science like climate change, energy and the weather.
And the final humdinger.. "This is quite frankly a distraction that science teachers can well do without."
Parents, don't be blind to the worldview that the education system is sadly being built on. Sound foundations are crucial to our children. Truth matters!
Jane
Info sourced from BBC news website |
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I must confess to a degree of bemused confusion when I hear parents that seem to complain every time they have to be around their children. You've probably heard the kind of comments to which I am referring: "Six whole weeks of holiday! What am I going to do with the little monsters??!!" "Just three more days till they're back at school, then I can get on with life again!"
I am always uncertain as to how such an attitude (which I often hear when I am among Christian people) is to be married with the fact that we are to consider our children as a blessing, a God-given responsibility, and an opportunity to actively make a difference in the future. We are often quick to forget that every aspect of our life as parents is a sacred service to our children and to God.
Billy Graham's wife, Ruth Graham, came from a distinguished spiritual family. Her father was a highly respected missionary in China for many years. She was a woman of many gifts and talents, yet she felt that her highest calling was to stay home and raise five children while her husband traveled the world preaching the gospel. She considered her parenting and housework to be an equal call to Billy's own evangelism work. In fact, her daughter, Anne Graham Lotz, relates that over their kitchen sink was a board which said, "Divine service will be conducted here three times daily." That is the attitude of one who has truly recognised the nature of the divine call to parenting!
There is a great deal of media coverage these days about how children are getting worse and worse, how the government must do something to help parents, and how the coming generation is virtually doomed already. I know that there are many troubles with the present generation. I also know that the challenges facing teenagers, and their parents, these days are probably greater than any time in history. I'm not denying that the teenage years can be tough ones (we've got a 12 year old in our house). But the divine call does not stop when a child hits the teen years. God in his grace will give the strength, grace, and wisdom to do everything that is necessary. And he is able to make even those seemingly terrifying years a time of blessing and positive growth for child and parents alike!
In his superb book on parenting teens, Age of Opportunity, Paul David Tripp concludes the opening chapter by saying, "When people ask you what you do, say, 'I am the parent of a teenager. It is the most important job I have ever had. Everything else I do for a living is secondary.' Then say, 'You know, I have never had a job that is so exciting! I have never had a job that is so full of opportunities. Every day I am needed. Every day I do things that are important, worthwhile, and lasting. I wouldn't give up this job for anything!'"
Perhaps if more parents in the world (and the church!) had such an attitude, the outlook for the future generation wouldn't be quite so bleak. Well... we may not be able to change the whole generation, but we can certainly make a difference in our own households. Be encouraged. Ask God to help you, to show you attitudes of your own heart that might be hindering your ability to parent your children, and then fully embrace the divine calling that he has given you--the glorious opportunity to guide, shape, and mould lives for eternity!
Bruce Garrison |
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I have been contemplating buying a Handbook entitled Keepers at Home for a while and finally took the the plunge and bought a copy for my two girls on Saturday. I thought I would take a moment to share it with you.
The book is entitled Keepers at Home A Handbook for Young Ladies.It is written by a lady called Susan D. Zakula and is part of a series of books by Keepers of the Faith. www.keepersofthefaith.com
Now to me this is every girls dream book, a Christian alternative to gaining Brownie Badges. I am not going to apologise for the fact some may think it old fashioned, outdated and a feminists nightmare. It is a wholesome, Godly guide to all things fun, inspiring, exciting and educational. Over the years your girls will decided what new skill they want to work for and once they complete their task to a good standard they are then awarded badges or equivilent to reward their hard work. The idea is that over the years of their childhood and up, they learn the right ways to become Godly women by means of studying scripture, prayer, learning Bible verses. They learn the skills of looking after a home and oodles of worthwhile crafts and creative skills.
Here are a few examples of what they can cover. Candlemaking Ceramics Dollmaking Oil Painting Weaving Quilting First Aid Sign Language Nature..... and the list goes on.
For those of you with boys they also do a handbook for them called Contenders of the Faith. It has many of the same topics as the girls book but also alot of boy specific subjects too. It is well worth taking a look at their website and you can get hold of these books and the badges from Ichthus resources. www.ichthusresources.co.uk
Have a look.
Deb |
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Check out my all time favourite homeschool resources:
Top of the list has to be our well thumbed classics...Charlotte's Web; The Railway Children;The Secret Garden; The Tales ofNarnia; Little House on the Prairie;Farmer Boy; The Hobbit;The Lord of the Rings. These fabulous books have given many hours of pleasure and intrigue all snuggled up on the sofa together. I highly recommend the reading lists of 'Sonlight' homeschool company, and The Great books academy.
Our current reads are Treasure Island (10yr old), Prince Caspian (8yr old) and Wind in the Willows read aloud to our 4 yr old. She is reading at a basic level now thanks to The Oxford Reading tree books. All my three learnt to read using these, they're fabulous.
Progeny Press do great comprehension resources based on these classics and may more.
'Greek'n'stuff' Greek curriculum is great fun and introduces children to the intricacies of language at a wider level. They also do Latin'n'stuff.
'Skoldo' French curriculum is the best one on the market!
Bravewriter.com was recently recommended as a great hands-on English resource. Check it out!
CGP Maths. This series follows the National Curriculum and is available at UK bookstores. We also use the CGP science workbooks. We also use www.sciencemadesimple.com and www.howstuffworks.com
'Draw Write Now' An art/writing course for 5-6 yr olds. My daughter loves this!
'Enchanted learning' has 20,000 printable resources available for just £12 a year. Fabulous resource for unit studies. Just type 'enchanted learning' into google.
Blue Peter TV Programme on BBC. My children have learnt so much from this and have entered many competitions. My eldest was awarded a much coveted 'Blue Peter' badge for his article on extreme weather. This badge gives him free entry to hundreds of educational/fun places.
For the classics, we choose an author/composer and then follow through with a study of their life and times. Recently we have studied Hokusai, a Japanese painter.
Check out the TOS UK site (homeschoolblogger.com/UK), it's bursting at the seams with great resources!
Hope these recommendations may be helpful to you :)
Jane
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Earlier this week a British national newspaper carried a front page story concerning a possible new initiative whereby this present government is once again going to try to invade the family unit. This time "the Nanny State" intends to force parents to attend classes where they will learn to sing nursery rhymes to their children. Apparently this lack of nursery rhymes has taken its place at the top of the list of dangers to the future of our children. The thinking behind this and the possible resulting scenes conjur up images that are really rather humourous.
How will the lessons actually work? Will diction be a focus? Will parents be given lessons in rhyme, meter, and cadence? Will specialists be brought in to help parents imitate various animal sounds? Will special day-long conferences be convened to educate parents in the symbolic intricacies of "Three Blind Mice"? The mind boggles at the possibilities.
However, it doesn't take long before the mental images soon lose their humourous nature. The implications of yet another attempt at incursion into the life of the family begin to loom rather large. Apparently this initiative is just part of a new "parenting workforce" that will be established--by the government of course--to take the lead role in showing parents how to take care of their children. This is just another case of government pressuring parents to "outsource" the raising of their children. This possibility raises several questions that must be answered.
Will the government train parents to raise their children according to the current governmental policies and doctrines, which seem to change every six months? Will the moral standards be based upon a relativistic ethic that seems to approve of anything and everything just "as long as I'm not hurting anyone"? Will the educational philosophies that are handed down be based upon our current political correctness gone mad? And how on earth do they expect to get the parents who truly need such training to actually show up for Mother Goose Appreciation Days? The potential consequences would undoubtedly provide George Orwell and Aldous Huxley with enough material for several more Big Brothers and coming Brave New Worlds.
The more important question to us should be, How do we as parents respond? I answer my question with a story that I recently read about the great British writer, G.K. Chesterton. Chesterton was a journalist who had penned over 1000 articles and written over 100 books. He regularly debated with some of the great minds of his day over the issues of Christianity, and frequently won the debates. He was known for his literary knowledge and quick wit. During a radio interview, Chesterton was asked the question: "If you were stranded on a desert island, what would be the one book you would want to have with you?" Undoubtedly the interviewer was expecting some high and lofty answer from the spiritual and literary giant, but without missing a beat Chesterton answered, "A Practical Guide to Shipbuilding."
The point is that sometimes the answer is so obvious that it can easily pass us by. How do we respond? We take the responsibility that has been given to us by God--not the government--and we begin to raise our children to be free-thinking, responsible individuals who are able to get outside the box of societal pressure to make a difference in their family, community, and society. We train them according to the historically proven, God-given absolute principles that have been the foundation of western society for centuries. We use the freedom that we still have to educate them so that they are able to learn throughout their lifetime and find their way through our increasingly complicated and unstable world. With God's help--not the government's--responsible parenting will result in the raising of whole and responsible children.
And by the way, if you're looking for good material to use in teaching your children nursery rhymes, A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson is a great place to start.
Bruce Garrison |
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After reading Jane's post on Monday I got to thinking that maybe the reason why we all seemed to be a little delayed with the Autumn theme is because we have still been enjoying pretty good weather for alot longer again this year.
Here in the Jepson house we have managed to collect blackberries on time, been conker hunting and gathered loads before they all disappeared into thin air. We have done Bonfire Night and attended a Beach Party as an alternative to Halloween. But this year we didn't do the tramping through muddy woods collecting all thing suitable for making very gooey Autumn pictures until Monday. We took our plastic bags, wrapped up warm and very carelessly ommitted putting the wellies in the car and went to a sure fire place to collect our nature collage material.
There is something so beautiful about the red, gold leaves hanging on to the trees and so much fun to be had running through the crunchy, crackly ones on the floor.
So I decided to do our Autumn work this week because I think we can finally say our Indian summer is over and winter is well on it's way. So far this week we have written a short essay about Autumn and the girls have had a go at doing Acrostic poems for the first time. Even I had a go and really enjoyed myself. So I thought I would post the girls poems for you to read and maybe it will inspire you all to have a go. Poetry is so good and great fun to write.
Autumn is when leaves fall Usually cold and windy Today it is sunny but not warm. Until spring comes again Many trees are bare Now cold is in the air. By Leah aged 8
Autumn is when leaves fall off trees Under ground animals sleep The air is full of care. Umbrellas blow away May is far away November is here. By Hannah aged 6
Why not have a go. It's great fun.
Deb |
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I could share many a story of homeschool days in our household which haven't worked out as planned. Life has that annoying knack of not being entirely predictable, and we become masters of rolling with the punchesa. Well, today, we ctually had a day that worked out even better than planned.... and all thanks to a humble relative of the squsah - a pumpkin.
Yes I know I'm a month late to have discovered the joys of pumpkins, but they're half price at Asda so I stocked up and then wondered what on earth I would do with them all. Well, here's what we did today:
1 Measured and weighed the pumpkins. Recorded their circumference and discussed about a 'sphere' shape with our youngest. Discusseed maths behind radius and circumference with oldest.
2 Lned up a line of various fruit and veg alongside the pumpkin and we discussed symmetry and why the leaves were green (photosynthesis) and vitamins found in various coloured fruit.
3Then, one by one we dropped them in a bucket of water to see if these veg floated or sunk. I had my oldest estimate the results before we started, put his 'bouyancy' and displacement' knowledge to the test. Then we discussed the results (do YOU think a carrot would float?)
4 Then I got out just three colours of acrylic paints and had them paint a picture of the pumpkin before them . The only problem was I only gave them red, yellow and blue....so they had to combine colours to get the colours they needed.This kept youngest quiet for ages (heh heh)
5 The we each estimated how many seeds were in the pumpkin, and opened them up to see who was closest. We separated the flesh and seeds and talked about the history of pumpkins, especially their importance to the early settlers of America. The kids started squeezing the slippery seeds at each other and a rampant game ensued, especially when they realised this was a game probably familiar to those early American children!
6 We roasted wedges of pumpkin and then pureed it and made pumpkin biscuits (currently cooking and they smell good).
7 In the mean time we roasted some of the seeds
8 The rest of the seed we painted either orange or green and plan to do a 'mosaic picture' of a pumpkin with them onto semi-set plaster tomorrow. Finally this afternoon I'll use somne of the fantastic worksheets on pumpkins on www.enchantedlearning.dom to consolidate and discuss about pollination and vine growing.
Yipeeeeeeeeeee. A great day. Not bad for a bag of 49p pumpkins! Jane
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One of the best things I have ever read is a passage from a devotional book by Joni Eareckson Tada. I'm sure you have all heard about this amazing woman who at the age of 17 had an horrendous accident whilst diving and was left a quadriplegic. I just love her inspirational story and many a time her Godliness and strength have given me new courage.
The particular passage I'm thinking about is called Strength... while you wait. She quotes Isaiah ch.40 v30-31.
Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not grow weary.
This is one of my most favourite verses because it keeps on reminding me of what life is all about. Doing Gods will! And by doing His will he will provide us with everything we need to accomplish the task.
I know that many of you who read this will have things going on in your lives that are really very hard to get through. We may be feeling that we are having to wait a very long time for God to answer those questions we keep talking to him about. Please keep remembering God's timing is perfect. Some of us may feel that we are in the wilderness right now. Maybe God wants to refine us like he did with Moses as he looked after the sheep for 40 years. Maybe we are experiencing doors getting shut over and over again every time we try and go down a certain path. Maybe God has a totally different path for you.
Waiting on God is one of the hardest things we have to do. Finding out his will for our lives and then waiting while it unfolds can be a real tough experience. But God has the best plan, the plan that will lead us to fullfill our calling and anointing. I think the key to waiting on God is to be active, get on with what he wants us to do now. It definitely doesn't mean to sit back, be lazy or apathetic.
For those of you reading this who are at a crossroads, particularly regarding whether to home school your children, whether God has a totally unexpected new direction for you to follow, or if He just wants you to be patient, I want to encourage you to draw near to God and wait with excited anticipation for all he has got for you and your family.
God Bless
Deb |
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The National Curriculum is considered acceptable by most British Christians. It is assumed that it is provides a breadth of education, fairly moral, and a sound foundation for understanding the world. Now 'school bashing' certainly isn't my thing, but here's a statement that SURELY warrants a bit of notice by British Christians...
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